Hubble Space Telescope Captures a frEGGS-Plosion of Star Formation

frEGGS-plosion

J025157.5+600606 is a special class of star-forming nursery known as Free-floating Evaporating Gaseous Globules. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Sahai

This image, taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, depicts a special class of star-forming nursery known as Free-floating Evaporating Gaseous Globules, or frEGGs for short. This object is formally known as J025157.5+600606.

When a massive new star starts to shine while still within the cool molecular cloud from which it formed, its energetic radiation can ionize the cloud’s hydrogen and create a large, hot bubble of ionized gas.

Cassiopeia Constellation Chart

IAU Cassiopeia chart. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC BY 3.0

Amazingly, located within this bubble of hot gas around a nearby massive star are the frEGGs: dark compact globules of dust and gas, some of which are giving birth to low-mass stars. The boundary between the cool, dusty frEGG and the hot gas bubble is seen as the glowing purple/blue edges in this fascinating image.

In July 2020, a previous ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week, of J025027.7+600849, featured another frEEG.

Be the first to comment on "Hubble Space Telescope Captures a frEGGS-Plosion of Star Formation"

Leave a comment

Email address is optional. If provided, your email will not be published or shared.